Betty Bell, of Newland Avenue, has been attending regular meetings held by the club in Driffield for more than 30 years and has retired from the role of secretary and speaker finder after almost 16 years.

Mrs Bell said: "If I had carried on until September it would have been 16 years and I just felt I have had enough because I am not so well as I have arthritis in my spine."

Mrs Bell first became involved with the club in the late 1970s after moving from Hampshire to the area with her husband and found it to be a source of comfort.

Mrs Bell said: "I was missing everybody and everything and then the old lady who lived next door at that time said 'how about the luncheon club?'.

"It was 14 years before somebody asked me to do this job.
"My husband had been diagnosed with cancer and so I said I would do it.
"It really helped me through those dark days."

Despite retiring from her official role, Mrs Bell has no intention of losing touch with the friends she has made through the club and after being made an honorary lifelong member sees little reason to stop attending now.

Mrs Bell said: "I have enjoyed it, it keeps the old grey matter ticking over. I am still going to attend the meetings because I have a lot of friends there.

"Somebody had hinted at a bouquet of flowers, but lifelong membership was a shock," she added.

Mrs Bell was presented with a basket of irises and her certificate of membership by current president, Brenda Chandler, and guest speaker, Ross Weekes.

The annual general meeting was attended by 67 members who were given a talk by Mr Weekes, a retired teacher at Driffield School, about his travels in Peru with Christian Aid.

Barbara Gilliat will take over the role of secretary and Jan Parr will act as the new speaker finder for the club.